Neuroimaging predictors of longitudinal disability and cognition outcomes in multiple sclerosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have generated substantial evidence relating neuroimaging abnormalities to clinical and cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis (MS). Longitudinal neuroimaging studies may have additional value for predicting future cognitive deficits or clinical impairment, potentially leading to earlier interventions and better disease management. We conducted a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies using neuroimaging to predict cognitive decline (i.e. the Symbol Digits Modalities Test, SDMT) and disability outcomes (i.e. the Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS) in MS. METHODS: Our systematic literature search yielded 64 relevant publications encompassing 105 distinct sub-analyses. We performed a multilevel random-effects meta-analysis to estimate overall effect size for neuroimaging's ability to predict longitudinal cognitive and clinical decline, and a meta-regression to investigate the impact of distinct study factors on pooled effect size. RESULTS: In the EDSS analyses, the meta-analysis yielded a medium overall pooled effect size (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.42, 95% CI [0.37; 0.46]). The meta-regression further indicated that analyses exclusively evaluating gray matter tissue had significantly stronger effect sizes than analyses of white matter tissue or whole brain analyses (p < 0.05). No other study factors significantly influenced the pooled effect size (all p > 0.05). In the SDMT analyses, the meta-analysis yielded a medium overall pooled effect size (r = 0.47, 95% CI [0.32; 0.60]). The meta-regression found no significant study factors influencing the pooled effect size. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that brain imaging is a medium predictor of longitudinal change in both disability progression (EDSS) and cognitive decline (SDMT). These findings reinforce the need for further longitudinal studies standardizing methods, using multimodal approaches, creating data consortiums, and publishing more complete datasets investigating MRI modalities to predict longitudinal disability and cognitive decline.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma in a patient on Fingolimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple case reports in the literature describing an association between fingolimod and cutaneous neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: Investigate and report a case of a primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma in a patient on fingolimod for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: Case Report. RESULTS: The patient developed a primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma after seven years of treatment with fingolimod. The patient is currently in complete remission after cessation of treatment, surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the first primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma associated with fingolimod treatment. It should be considered a rare, but potential adverse effect of fingolimod.

Conversion Disorder: Early Diagnosis and Personalized Therapy Plan Is the Key.

Conversion disorder is characterized by one or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory functions that cannot be explained by a neurological disease (Keynejad, 2019; Samuels et al., 2019). We present a patient with conversion disorder and discuss her process in overcoming this disorder. Additionally, we review the literature about this specific disorder. A 15-year-old white female was diagnosed with conversion disorder and has shown significant recovery with physical therapy and group therapy since. It is essential to recognize this disorder early to lessen the financial burden on families and to speed up the recovery process for these patients.

Neurologic complications of gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: The number of bariatric procedures is rapidly growing as the prevalence of obesity in the USA is increasing. Such procedures are not without complications, and those affecting the nervous system are often disabling and irreversible. We now describe our experience with these complications and review the pertinent literature. METHODS: We describe 26 patients with major neurologic conditions that seemed causally related to bariatric surgery encountered in the neurology service of a tertiary referral university medical center over a decade. RESULTS: The neurologic complications affected most regions of the nervous system: encephalopathy, optic neuropathy, myelopathy, polyradiculoneuropathy, and polyneuropathy. Myelopathy was the most frequent and disabling problem; symptoms began about a decade after surgery. Encephalopathy and polyradiculoneuropathy were acute and early complications. Except for vitamin B(12) and copper deficiencies in patients with myelopathy, we could not correlate specific nutritional deficiencies to the neurologic complications. All patients had multiple nutritional deficiencies, but their correction did not often yield dramatic results. The best result was achieved in one patient after surgical revision to reduce the bypassed jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: A wide spectrum of serious neurologic conditions may follow bariatric surgery. These complications may occur acutely or decades later.

Sheehan syndrome: a splinter of the mind.

A 40-year-old woman presented with headache and diplopia after hypotension from postpartum hemorrhage. A noncontrasted cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an enlarged pituitary with a rim of slight increased signal. A repeat gadolinium-enhanced cranial MRI showed peripheral enhancement of the pituitary gland surrounding an isointense central area consistent with infarction of the pituitary and the clinical diagnosis of Sheehan syndrome. The patient was treated with intravenous hydrocortisone. Immediately after treatment, her symptoms remitted and the examination normalized. One month later, a gadolinium-enhanced cranial MRI was normal. The characteristic appearance of the post-gadolinium enhanced cranial MRI helped confirm the diagnosis of Sheehan syndrome and facilitate early treatment with corticosteroids.